City of Saskatoon Bylaw amendments to align with SGI’s new Vehicle Noise Policy
A report to update the City of Saskatoon’s Noise Bylaw, 2003 to align with the Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) Vehicle Noise Policy will be presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation on October 3, 2023.
The proposed update to the Bylaw will enhance enforcement procedures and reduce ambiguity in compliance assessments, extending the ability of police officers to order sound testing of both motorcycles and other motor vehicles, which is an objective method to measure noise levels rather than determining subjectively when noise from motor vehicles is unreasonably loud or excessive.
The proposed update will also include a noise level limit for motor vehicles while placing the noise level limit for motorcycles to the same standard. If approved by City Council, these changes would take effect on January 1, 2024.
“This bylaw alignment with SGI’s policy addresses a longstanding challenge in enforcing noise bylaws, striving to reduce vehicle noise disruptions across our community,” said Nathalie Baudais, Transportation Engineering Manager.
“This initiative reflects our efforts to improve the quality of life and health for people in our community.”
Similar to the SGI Vehicle Noise Policy, police officers would have the ability to issue vehicle inspection tickets, requiring vehicle owners to take their vehicle for inspection to an SGI-certified vehicle inspection station, and complete all necessary repairs as part of SGI’s Unsafe Vehicle Program.
All light vehicles in Saskatchewan, including passenger cars, pickup trucks, minivans, SUVs and motorcycles, must be equal to or quieter than 101.3 dB when tested, based on stationary measurements of exhaust noise. This noise test and policy is consistent with the Society of Automotive Engineers.
For more information on the City of Saskatoon’s Noise Bylaw, visit www.saskatoon.ca/noise-bylaw